Why Is Blue Mountain Coffee So Closely Guarded?
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee grows in the Blue Mountain range ringed by the Caribbean Sea, where volcanic soil, high humidity and misty conditions produce an elegant cup with balanced sweetness, acidity and bitterness. Counterfeit lots are common, so buyers should check franchise qualifications, certificates of origin and customs inspection documents before purchasing.
The Blue Mountain peak rises 2,256 meters, the highest point in the Caribbean. Rainfall averages about 1,980 mm a year with temperatures near 27 degrees Celsius. Harvesting is done by hand, and Jamaica still ships coffee in traditional wooden barrels. Only lots passing the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board appraisal receive a government certificate.
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is hailed as the pinnacle of the coffee world, produced in the Blue Mountain range surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. Its unique volcanic soil and humid, misty climate nurture an elegant flavor with a balanced sweetness, acidity, and bitterness, and almost no bitterness. However, counterfeit Blue Mountain coffee is rampant on the market, and consumers need to verify franchise qualifications, certificates of origin, and customs inspection documents. This article will provide coffee lovers with a complete guide to tasting and purchasing, covering the origin environment of Blue Mountain coffee, strict processing standards, the difference from High Mountain beans, and the filter bag hot brewing technique for Front Street Blue Mountain coffee.
Follow Coffee Review (WeChat public account vdailycom) to discover beautiful coffee shops and open your own small shop.
Front Street Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Introduction
Blue Mountain coffee is regarded as the world's most outstanding coffee variety. The Blue Mountain range is located in the eastern part of Jamaica, encircled by the Caribbean Sea. On clear days, sunlight strikes the azure sea, and the peaks refract the dazzling blue radiance of the seawater, giving Blue Mountain its name. The main peak of Blue Mountain rises 2,256 meters, not only the highest point in the Caribbean but also a famous tourist destination. This region lies within the coffee-growing belt, with fertile volcanic soil, clean and pollution-free air, high humidity, and year-round mist and abundant rainfall (average annual precipitation of about 1,980 mm, with temperatures maintained around 27 degrees). It is precisely these natural conditions that have created the world-renowned Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee and made it the most expensive coffee in the world.
Front Street Blue Mountain coffee is also extremely meticulous in processing and production, with strict and detailed standards from processing, roasting to packaging, and even explicit regulations on what organic fertilizers should be applied during the growing period. Harvesting is entirely done by hand, and Jamaica is also a country that still uses traditional wooden barrels for packaging and transporting coffee to this day. Only coffee that passes the standard appraisal set by the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board can obtain a government-issued certificate and officially bear the name "Blue Mountain."
Generally, coffee beans grown at low altitudes and in other regions can only be called "Jamaica High Mountain beans" or "Jamaica washed beans," and their flavor is vastly different from Jamaican Blue Mountain. However, the planted area in these regions is twice that of the true Blue Mountain area, and their output accounts for 75% of Jamaica's total coffee production. Therefore, when you buy Jamaican coffee, do not directly assume it is Blue Mountain coffee.
Coffee is a gift from the earth and the sun. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is monopolized by 7 Japanese companies. In Shanghai, brands more familiar to consumers include Carume and UCC authentic Blue Mountain coffee. In recent years, coffee has gradually become a popular beverage, and many units and individuals selling counterfeit Blue Mountain coffee have been investigated and dealt with in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and other places. When purchasing Blue Mountain coffee, consumers must pay attention to verifying the following items:
1. Determine the coffee company's franchise qualification to operate Blue Mountain coffee;
2. Certificate of origin for Blue Mountain coffee;
3. Customs import declaration form and Commodity Inspection Bureau certificate.
How to Brew Front Street Blue Mountain Coffee
Front Street Blue Mountain coffee is the finest of coffees, produced in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. This mountain gets its name from the blue glow emitted by reflecting the azure seawater of the Caribbean Sea. This coffee possesses all the characteristics of good coffee; not only is its flavor rich and mellow, but because the sweetness, acidity, and bitterness are perfectly balanced, it has no bitterness at all, only a moderate and perfect acidity, and is generally consumed as a single-origin coffee.
Filter Bag Hot Coffee Brewing Method
You can prepare multiple servings of hot coffee in advance. When brewing, you must also pay attention to the coffee grounds' coarseness, water temperature, water volume, and brewing method. It is best to use a narrow-spout kettle for better results. At the same time, after the coffee liquid has finished dripping, it must be reheated to 80–90°C to achieve the best drinking flavor.
Materials and utensils: coffee grounds, small brewing bag (filter bag), small brewing stand, kettle, coffee spoon, narrow-spout kettle.
Preparation: Pour the coffee grounds into the brewing bag, first tap the bottom to make the grounds even, then make a small hollow in the center of the top. Pour 90°C hot water in a circular motion over the coffee grounds, then pour 95°C hot water in a small rotating circle, and finally pour 85°C hot water aimed at the very center, slowly raising from low to high while pouring downward, and it is complete.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
